40,000 attend 626 Night Market at Santa Anita Park

Maybe the only thing hotter than the near triple-digit heat, were the blazing Nami wingz from the Belly Bombs food truck at the weekend’s 626 Night Market at Santa Anita Park.

Stretching over the weekend and anchored in a large portion of the vast parking lot, an estimated 40,000 people enjoyed over 200 food vendors, artists and merchants. It was a veritable feast for the senses.

“Food is the heart and soul of Asian markets,” event organizer Jonny Hwang explained. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to bring area merchants and artists together for the event.

Among those in attendance Sunday were Steve and Macy Miller of Orange County. The couple read about the market on Yelp, and marveled at the array of food stuffs offered.

“Everything we ate was on a stick,” said Macy Miller. These items included squid, designer cotton candy, and the crowd favorite, the Tornado Potato. A whole spiral cut, deep fried potato on a stick measuring 18 inches long.

Among the vendors was Mike Liev of Beyond Masquerade, a party supply/toy store based in El Monte.

“I’ve been to all the 626 Night Markets; it exposes my business to a new audience and it’s cool to be involved from the beginning,” he said.

The event has become a near phenomenon by expanding to L.A., and recently, the Orange County Fair.

The final 626 Night Market of the season is scheduled for Sept. 12-14.